Revised_SCOPE_OF_WORK_Herbecide_Spraying_2026.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

FWS NOXUBEE NWR

13723 BLUFF LAKE ROAD

BROOKSVILLE MS 39739

STATEMENT OF WORK

OBJECTIVES: Herbicide spraying application to reduce aquatic invasive and pest plants in

Refuge lakes and wetlands on the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge. The spraying application timeframe will be completed from award date to September 01, 2026. This application shall be conducted during normal business hours 7:00AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday.

1. SCOPE OF WORK:

1.1 General:

Herbicide application will be applied in Loakfoma and Bluff Lakes to reduce invasive and pest plants from award date to September 01 of 2026. Equipment will be in condition to render efficient, economical and continuous service. Failure of the equipment to perform to the satisfaction of the Contracting Officer will be sufficient cause for the termination of the contract by the Government, or the requirement by the Government that the equipment be replaced with equipment of satisfactory performance.

1.2 Location of Work Area:

Treatment area is designated lakes and wetland on the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National

Wildlife Refuge, Oktibbeha and Noxubee Counties in Mississippi (see attached map).

1.3 Description of Work:

Spraying of aquatic plants on refuge lakes and wetlands. The target species to be treated is

American Lotus, alligator weed, water primrose, white water lily and water shield. The target date for spraying will take place from award date to September 01, 2026. Spraying dates will be scheduled by refuge staff in coordination with the contractor. The scheduled dates shall be conducted during normal business hours 7:00AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday, unless approved by refuge manager. The refuge will supply the herbicide/surfactant and the contractor will ensure herbicide mixture in accordance with the labels. Approximately 240 acres will be sprayed using Polaris AC Complete (16 oz/acre) ; Aquamaster (32 oz /acre) and a surfactant (1 percent solution). The chemicals will be in 30 gallon drums (except surfactant). The contractor would be paid by the acre at the bid rate. Shape files of the spray area will be provided but there may be areas in the spray area that do not have vegetation and the pilot will be able to spray vegetated areas outside the shape files to get the 240 acres.

The contractor will abide by all Federal, State, and local laws and regulations and all applicable product labels. Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee NWR will provide the necessary herbicide and surfactant. The contractor will be responsible for mixing the chemicals and preventing spills and will properly rinse and dispose of the chemical containers as well as all other trash that is generated. The contractor is responsible for drift and will take all necessary precautions to control drift and prevent spraying non-target areas. The contractor will supply all necessary drift control agent.

The government will provide to the contractor the designated spraying areas. Sam D. Hamilton

Noxubee NWR will be responsible for providing the chemical listed above for spraying 240 acres.

2. GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY:

2.1 The Fish and Wildlife Service shall:

1) Brief the contractor on the treatment areas and provide the Contractor maps including electronic shapefiles of areas to be treated, and other information for the purpose of further identification of the areas.

2) Provide access to municipal clean water supply for tank mixing of herbicides.

3) Provide a point of contact to oversee on-site application.

4) Assume no responsibility for the equipment, or injury to employees of the Contractor, nor for any damages or injury to persons or property of third parties at any time during the life of the Contract. The contractor shall hold and save the service and its officers and agents harmless from all claims arising out of prosecution of the work under this contract.

5) Inspect and approve services for payment.

6) Designate and schedule spraying event, with contractor, that will occur from award date and September 01 in 2026.

3. CONTRACTORS RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1 The Contractor shall:

1) Provide the Service’s Contracting Officer Representative with the following:

Access number, Office telephone, cellular numbers for all supervisors working on this

Contract and a Fax line number. Additionally, electronic mail addresses for key Contract personnel shall be provided to the Service.

2) Be familiar with Refuge treatment areas existing conditions prior to contract execution.

All work shall be conducted between Monday and Friday unless approved in advance by the Service. No work shall be conducted on federal holidays or weekends without prior approval.

3) Have an on-site supervisor, who is responsible for all Contract execution, including herbicide mixing and storage, work assignments and crew supervision. Supervisor must be able to communicate effectively in English.

4) Provide all labor, equipment, transportation, fuel, mixing tanks and storage, to perform the work specified herein. Contractor must have all the required training to use herbicides listed in this document.

5) Be responsible for all work performed until the completion and acceptance of the entire

Contract.

6) Be allowed to subcontract work as described herein with prior approval of the Service.

The subcontractor must meet the same qualifications and follow all technical or special provisions as the contractor.

7) Provide shapefile of treated areas upon completion of spraying event to refuge staff.

4. SPECIAL CONDITIONS:

1. The contractor will provide a map to the authorized representative of the contracting officer of the area actually sprayed plus a calculation of the actual acres sprayed at each location.

2. Spraying operations may be suspended temporarily due to weather conditions such as high winds, rain, or anticipated rain. The contractor will not spray when wind conditions are not favorable or when rain is expected.

3. The Contractor must comply with all applicable federal, state and local regulations and land-use permitting procedures." (Federal law prohibits takeoff and landing of aircraft from wildlife refuges without a permit).

4. Contractor must provide a communication system so that contractor personnel engaged in the project at different locations can communicate at all times with each other, and so that government Project Inspectors may communicate with the contractor at any time to discuss performance matters.

5. Only approved contractor personnel, contractor equipment and government-provided equipment required for performance of contract will be transported by contractor vehicles, trailers, animals or equipment.

6. Any ground or aerial hazards that would pose a danger to Contractor’s personnel or operating equipment must be identified and mitigated by the Contractor prior to commencing operations.

7. MOBILIZATION:

The contractor will not be paid mobilization or demobilization.

8. WEATHER:

Spraying operations may be suspended temporarily due to weather conditions such as high winds

(exceeding 10 MPH), rain, or anticipated rain. The contractor will not spray when wind conditions are not favorable or when rain is expected.

9. WORK PERIOD:

All work will be performed from award date to September 01 and no earlier than 30 days prior to previous application. Applications will take place between the hours of 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM in 2026, unless refuge manager approves extensions on periods. No spraying will be conducted on Federal Holidays or Weekends.

10. SUPERVISION:

The equipment described herein, for the purpose of ordering work when and as required, determining acceptability of work performed. However, this shall not relieve the Contractor or his responsible agents of any responsibility for the proper execution of the work in accordance with the contract and directives of the Contracting Officer issued thereafter.

11. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor will be required to make his own provisions for parking of his equipment.

The Contractor will be required to furnish his own sanitary facilities, water and operational necessities.

12. EXPENSES OF OPERATION AND REPAIR:

The Contractor shall furnish at his own expense all skilled operators, labor, fuel, and necessary equipment for transportation of fuel to equipment, including operators, laborers, appliances, appurtenances, equipment and supplies, and shall bear all expenses incidental to the efficient operation of the plant in connection with the work.

13. OBJECTIONABLE EMPLOYEES:

The Contractor will remove from work under this contract any employee who in the opinion of the Contracting Officer is objectionable or incompetent. The requirement shall not be made the basis of any claim for compensation or damages against the United States or any of its officers or agents.

14. CONTRACTOR SUPERVISION:

The Contractor shall provide a person at the work site to receive instructions from the

Contracting Officer or his authorized representative. This person will be responsible for implementing the Government’s instructions and will be responsible for the direct supervision of all Contract employees.